What Is a Hybrid Magnolia Tree That Does Not Lose Leaves?

Look for evergreen magnolia tree hybrids descsended from the native Southern Magnolia.

Magnolias are prized worldwide as superior flowering trees, producing sometimes dramatic, fragrant blossoms. Some magnolias are so fragrant that their perfume can overwhelm the scent of roses. Available in both tree and shrub forms, magnolias are often deciduous, meaning that they drop their leaves in autumn and conserve energy in winter by going dormant. Some are semi-deciduous and there are also two evergreen Magnolia tree species native to North America, one well-known Asian evergreen species and at least several viable hybrids of these.

Identification

Including species closely related to well-known magnolia trees and shrubs, as of 2010 there are more than 200 known members of the magnolia family. Magnolia species are either native to the eastern Americas, including Mexico and Central America, or southeastern Asia. Among the world's most ancient flowering plants--their current range created by retreating Ice Age glaciers--magnolias are known for their attractive form, glossy leaves, fragrant flowers and flashy fruits and seeds that support songbirds. They are easy to grow and relatively free of pests and diseases.

Evergreen Features

Magnolias that do not lose their leaves in fall or winter and go dormant in winter are considered evergreen. Like all trees, evergreen magnolias do lose leaves even under ideal growing conditions, but they lose them individually--aged leaves fall and are replaced by new leaves. Two evergreen Magnolias native to North America are the Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora, which can grow 80 to 90 feet tall, and the smaller Sweetbay magnolia, or Magnolia virginiana.

Freeman and Maryland

In the 1930s the botanist Oliver Myles Freeman crossed the two North American evergreen magnolias to achieve what became known as "the Freeman hybrids." One successful cultivar, Freeman, is similar to Southern Magnolia in form, size and foliage, but flowers earlier with a strong fragrance similar to Sweetbay. The similar Maryland cultivar is less columnar and has lighter colored leaves like Sweetbay.

Timeless Beauty

This commercially available cultivar, introduced by Monrovia Nursery in 1987, is the result of a hybrid cross between Southern Magnolia and the Chinese Evergreen magnolia or Magnolia delavayi. A slow growing, small tree that reaches 15 to 20 feet in height and 20 to 25 feet in width, Timeless Beauty has showy, fragrant spring flowers, is deer resistant and also reasonably cold hardy.

Asian Evergreen Magnolias

Watch for new Asian magnolia hybrids as well as introduced ornamental varieties. In early 2008, Gary Knox, professor at the University of Florida Cooperative Extension describes various Asian magnolias now being extensively tested for wider U.S. introduction. In his online article "Promising New Evergreen Magnolias for Florida," Knox discusses various evergreen magnolia species that flower for months, feature pink or red flowers, offer intense floral scents and have blue and olive-green colored leaves.

References

• University of Florida Extension: Magnolias
• U.S. National Arborteum: Magnolia Questions and Answers
• U.S. National Arborteum: Plant Explorers & Collectors: Oliver Myles Freeman
• Monrovia Nursery Co.: Timeless Beauty
• University of Florida Extension: Promising New Evergreen Magnolias for Florida

Resources

• American Magnolia Society: Magnolia Cultivar Checklist
• Harvard Arboretum: Some Old and New Interspecific Magnolia Hybrids